Background - The goal of this project is to
reduce the size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements of signal intelligence (SIGINT)
systems. The project is in the last phase of a four-phase approach that
methodically determines the optimal platforms and technologies and adapts known
algorithms for the selected miniaturized system, while researching and
implementing new processes that meet customers' emerging requirements.

All phases have been joint efforts between two SwRI
technical research divisions. These divisions have both independent and shared
project goals. The goals are to develop a portable wideband V/UHF SIGINT system
that provides a wideband DF capability and to implement a complete SIGINT system
capable of detecting, channelizing, and demodulating multiple target signals
over a 30 MHz bandwidth. Phase 1 focused on the embedded design. Phase 2 focused
on the implementation and optimization of the Phase 1 design on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) development boards. Phase 3 developed a field-operational SIGINT system prototype to convince prospective clients that SwRI has developed
a viable man-transportable V/UHF DF system and to avoid the perception of
vaporware. Phase 4 goals are to expand the existing Phase 3 SIGINT system
capability to include wideband scanning detection and DF in a further reduced
SWaP form factor, and to detect and classify wireless communications.

Approach - Both divisions are targeting COTS
development boardsets with field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to
achieve a reduced SWaP system and are focused on porting existing algorithms
from PC servers to FPGAs.

Accomplishments - To date, SwRI has created a
field system prototype for V/UHF operations. The FPGA-based prototype is 30
pounds and 50 watts, compared with 175 pounds and 2,100 watts of legacy PC-based
systems. The prototype provides automatic and manual DF and geolocation. Also,
SwRI has implemented a 90 MHz channelizer-based demodulator that processes up to
64 signals in parallel and fits in a low-power Xilinx Spartan device.